Protective garment and methods of use

ABSTRACT

A protective garment including one or more removable layers attached to an underlying garment. The removable layers may be removed by a user if the protective garment is soiled or exposed to a contaminant. In this way, a removable layer may be removed and discarded by the user without needing to remove the entire protective garment.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to protective clothing. More particularly, this disclosure relates to a wearable protective garment including one or more layers that may allow a user to remove a contaminated or soiled layer without changing the whole garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of protective garment.

FIG. 1B shows one embodiment of a removable layer for a protective garment.

FIG. 2A shows a support frame for one embodiment of a protective garment.

FIG. 2B shows one embodiment of a removable layer for a protective garment.

FIG. 2C shows one embodiment of a protective garment and an attached removable layer.

FIG. 3 shows one embodiment of a protective garment including one or more removable panels.

FIG. 4 shows one embodiment of a protective garment including multiple removable layers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Laborers and professionals in many industries are exposed to a variety of conditions that may soil or contaminate their clothing. For example, with each patient visit or procedure, health care workers may be exposed to various pathogens and contaminants that can soil and compromise the safety of their clothes. To avoid spreading the contaminants to other individuals or equipment, the worker would usually remove or discard the entire contaminated garment. The present disclosure relates to a protective garment or outerwear with one or more removable layers that may allow the user to remove a contaminated or soiled layer without changing the whole garment.

In one embodiment, the protective garment may be an overcoat, smock, gown or a lab coat of the type worn by doctors, scientists, technicians, laboratory workers and by other professionals in the medical and health care industries. In one embodiment, the protective garment may include one or more removable layers that may conform to the shape and fit of at least a portion of an underlying garment or a foundation garment. When the wearer of a protective garment, as disclosed herein, engages in an activity that may soil or contaminate one or more of the removable layers of the protective garment, the wearer may remove one or more layers from the protective garment and place it in the recycling, trash or laundry. In another embodiment, the protective garment may be a butcher's coat or other protective clothing, coat, pants, coveralls, lab coats, aprons, chaps and covers that may be used for industrial applications or in food preparation and processing. In one such embodiment, the protective garment disclosed herein may be used for general maintenance, painting, lead or asbestos cleanup, mold remediation, chemical application, pesticide/herbicide applications, radioactive cleanup, construction, automotive work, fiberglass installation, agriculture, environmental cleanup, sand blasting, forensics, woodworking, mining and cross-contamination prevention.

The protective garment, including the removable layers, can be constructed of one or more natural or synthetic materials. In one embodiment, the removable layers of the protective garment may be constructed from a lightweight and breathable material. In one embodiment, the protective garment is constructed of one or more of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester and nylon. In another embodiment, the protective garment is constructed of one or more washable, disposable or recyclable materials such as paper, plastic, vinyl, polypropylene or polyethylene. In one embodiment, the protective garment may include a foundation garment or underlying garment made of one material and one or more removable layers constructed of the same or of a different material. For example, a protective garment may include a cotton and/or polyester underlying garment with multiple removable layers constructed from paper, plastic, vinyl, polypropylene, polyethylene, or any other suitable woven or non-woven material.

The protective garment may be constructed of one or more materials selected according to the expected working conditions or a particular desired performance characteristic. In one embodiment, depending on the expected risk of chemical or fluid contamination, the underlying garment and/or one or more of the removable layers can be constructed of lightweight shear spun-bonded polypropylene. In another embodiment, where the risk of fluid contamination may be significant, one or more of the removable layers can be constructed from a water repellant material such as a flash-spun high density polyethylene, like Tyvek®, or polypropylene coated with polyethylene or breathable micro-porous polypropylene. In another embodiment, the underlying garment and/or one or more removable layers can include materials that incorporate antimicrobial agents or that have been treated with antimicrobial agents. For example, the underlying garment and/or one or more of the removable layers may be treated with, or include, an antimicrobial agent such as iodine, chlorine, silver oxide or silver nanoparticles.

The protective garment may include one or more removable layers that can be attached to an underlying garment or a foundation garment. In one embodiment, the removable layers can also be mechanically attached to the lab coat using such methods as, but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, hook and eye fasteners or zippers. In another embodiment, the one or more removable layers may also be attached using a suitable adhesive, such as a low tack adhesive, adhesive film or tape.

In one embodiment, the protective garment may include one or more removable layers disposed on an underlying foundation garment configured as a whole coat. The underlying garment may comprise a back, front panels, chest pocket or pockets, waist pockets, front closures, sleeves and a collar with lapels. The underlying garment may be constructed, for example, using one of, or a combination of, cotton, cotton/polyester blend, polyester, nylon, plastic, vinyl, polyethylene, polypropylene or any other suitable material. In one embodiment, the one or more removable layers are configured to substantially conform to the shape of the underlying foundation garment and may include substantially all components of the foundation garment. In one embodiment, the removable layers may include a back, front panels, front opening, neck opening and sleeves. In one embodiment, the removable layers can be placed on the foundation garment. In one embodiment, the removable layers can be attached to the foundation garment using the front closure buttons on the foundation garment. In one embodiment, the removable layers can be attached to the foundation garment using such methods as adhesive, low-tack adhesive, hook and loop fasteners, hook and eye fasteners, buttons, snaps or zippers. In one embodiment, the removable layers can be attached to the foundation garment by mechanically press bonding the removable layers to the foundation garment.

A protective garment as disclosed herein may include a frame or support to which one or more removable layers may be attached. The frame may be used to reduce the bulk or weight of the protective garment. In one embodiment, the frame may include a shoulder, back and chest pieces. In one such embodiment, the frame or support may be similar to a half-vest and can include an attached collar, lapels and button strip. The frame or support can be constructed using a durable fabric such as a heavy weight cotton duck, polyester, or nylon. In another embodiment, the frame may be constructed of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester or nylon. In another embodiment, the frame or support may be stiffened using an underlayment material or by using battens stitched into the material. In one embodiment, the frame may also be a semi-rigid structure comprising rods or strips that may be configured to comfortably fit over the wearer's shoulders. The frame can be constructed of nylon, plastic or vinyl and may include attached fabric breast pieces for improved comfort and to support breast pockets as desired. In one embodiment, the removable layers may be attached to the frame using adhesive, low tack adhesive, adhesive film, tape or by mechanical means, such as but not limited to, hook and loop fasteners, buttons, snaps, hook and eye fasteners and zippers. In another embodiment, the removable layers may be attached to the frame using slots that engage a piping edge sewn or formed into the removable layers.

The protective garment may include an underlying garment that may be constructed as a coat or gown and may include removable layers that may include one or more removable panels. This can allow the wearer to remove one or more of the removable panels that may have been soiled or contaminated during a procedure or process. In one embodiment, the removable panels may be shaped to conform to the shape or a region of the underlying garment or foundation garment. In one embodiment, a protective garment may include removable panels that may be constructed as one or more of a collar/lapel panel, back panel, shoulder panels, breast panels, waist panels, sleeve panels, and pant leg panels. In one embodiment, the protective garment may include one or more removable sections that may directly engage or overlap the edges of one or more of any adjacent removable panel. In another embodiment, the protective garment may include one or more removable layers or removable panels that do not engage or overlap any adjacent removable layer or panel.

In one embodiment, the protective garment may be configured as a surgical gown or smock with removable layers covering at least a portion of the protective garment. In one such embodiment, the protective garment may include an underlying garment fashioned like a surgical gown with ties, for example, at the back, waist or neck, and include removable layers that may cover at least a portion of the protective garment such as the front and sleeves of the garment.

In another embodiment the protective garment can be constructed as an apron having removable layers. The apron may be worn by a butcher or others in food service or processing. This has the advantage of allowing a food handler to remove a layer anytime the apron may become soiled or if the handler, such as a butcher, leaves the processing area to interact with customers. A protective garment with removable layers which are substantially self adhesive may also be used with the protective garment as described herein. For example, the removable layers may be made from plastics, vinyl, and polyethylene products that can have inherently tacky characteristics that may adhere to another removable layer or the underlying garment. For example, spun-bonded polypropylene layers can be combined on a filament level by stacking individual sheets and subjecting the stack or bundle to pressure, causing an engagement to occur between the weave or individual filaments in the material. In one embodiment, the spun-bonded layers can be combined as sheets prior to cutting and placement on the underlying garment or frame. In another embodiment, the removable layers may be mated together and placed on a mandrel before press bonding the removable layers together. In one embodiment, the individual removable layers may include non-adhered regions or tabs, which can facilitate removal of the individual layers.

The protective garments as disclosed herein, may also be configured using multiple layers of dissimilar material designed to perform a specific function or designed around different stages in a procedure. In one embodiment, a protective garment, such as a surgeon's gown, may include an underlying layer with removable layers staged for steps in the surgery. For example, the topmost removable layer on a surgeon's gown may be a polyethylene coated polypropylene for waterproof protection, used during the initial stages of an operation, while the next layers may be spun-bonded polypropylene, or another lightweight and comfortable material, used during closing and post-op monitoring.

With reference to the figures, a protective garment, such as protective garment 100 shown in FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B may be configured as a lab coat, having a underlying garment 111 and one or more removable layers, such as removable layer 120. In one embodiment, the underlying garment 111 may include a lapel or collar 116, front panels 112, a chest pocket 113, waist pockets 119 and sleeves 117. The underlying garment 111 can be secured closed using button strip 115 which may include two overlapping portions, the first portion or bottom portion includes buttons 114, the second portion or top portion can include corresponding button holes.

As shown in FIG. 1B, removable layer 120 may include a similar form as the underlying garment 111. In one embodiment, the removable layer 120 may include a collar 124, shoulders 126 and front panels 121. In one embodiment, the removable layer 120 may have sleeves 122 and an internal or external pocket, such as pocket 123 and waist pocket 129. In another embodiment, the removable layer 120 may include an overlapping front opening 125 having button holes 127 that may correspond with the buttons 114 attached to underlying garment 111. In one such embodiment, removable layer 120 may be placed on underlying garment 111, may be secured to the underlying garment 111 by inserting buttons 114 through button holes 127 or may be attached to using any suitable attachment means.

With reference to FIGS. 2A-2C, one embodiment of a protective garment may include a frame or support, such as frame 200. The frame 200 may include a lapel or collar 211, front panels 212, button strip 215 and shoulder support frames 218. The shoulder support frames 218 may be configured as rods or straps and may be constructed from a material such as plastic, vinyl or nylon. In one embodiment, chest panels 212 may be attached to the shoulder support frames 218, to provide improved comfort for the wearer, and support chest pockets 213. In another embodiment, button strip 215 may include two overlapping portions, the first portion or bottom portion will include buttons 214, while the second portion includes corresponding button holes (not shown). In one embodiment, one or more removable layers 220, as shown in FIG. 2B, can placed on the frame 200. Removable layer 220 may comprise; a body portion 221 including, a neck opening 224, back portion (not shown), front portions 225 with an overlapping front opening 223, having button holes 227 through both layers of front opening 223, shoulders 226, and sleeves 222. In one embodiment, the removable layer 220 may be placed on shoulder support frames 218 with the neck opening 224 positioned under the collar 211. In one such embodiment, the neck opening 224 can be attached or secured under the collar 211 along attachment line 216. In another embodiment, the neck opening 224 can be passively restrained by the collar 211 when the collar 211 is in a down position, as shown in FIG. 2A. In another embodiment, front opening 223 is secured to the lab coat frame 200 by inserting buttons 214 through button holes 227 in the removable layer 220. In one embodiment, the shoulder portion 226 of removable layer 220 is supported by support frames 218.

As shown in FIG. 3, protective garment 300 may include a underlying garment comprising a lapel or collar 316, front portions 319, and a closing with buttons 314 attached to button strip 315. In one embodiment, protective garment 300 may be partially or substantially covered with one or more removable layers comprising removable panels 320, including but not limited to, shoulder panels 326, sleeve panels 327 and front panels 328. In one embodiment, the removable panels 320 can be attached using a low tack adhesive or other attachment means.

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 4, a protective garment as disclosed herein may be configured like surgical gown 400. The surgical gown 400 may be a front, side or rear closing gown and can include a collar 431 with ties 432. The surgical gown 400 may comprise one or more removable layers such as removable layer 440 that can be attached to an underlying gown 420. The removable layer 440 may be attached to the underlying gown 420 by at least one of a hook and loop fastener, hook and eye fasteners, buttons, snaps or zippers. The removable layer 330 may also be attached using a low tack adhesive or with the inherent adhesive characteristics of the material used for the underlying gown 420 and the removable layer 440. In one embodiment, the removable layer 440 can include multiple layers of similar material or may include multiple layers, staged to optimize functionality during different steps of a surgical procedure. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, top layer 443 may be a waterproof vinyl, containing antimicrobial silver oxide, while the removable layers 442 and 441 may be a lighter, more comfortable material, such as breathable microporous polypropylene.

It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that many changes may be made to the details of the above-described embodiments without departing from the underlying principles of the invention. The scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined only by the following claims. 

1. A protective garment comprising: a wearable underlying garment; at least one removable layer attached to the underlying garment; wherein the at least one removable layer may be removed by a user without removing the underlying garment.
 2. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the underlying garment is made of at least one of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, spun-bonded polypropylene, flash-spun high-density polyethylene, polyethylene coated polypropylene, microporous polypropylene, vinyl, plastic and nylon.
 3. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable layer is configured to substantially cover the wearable underlying garment.
 4. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable layer is made of at least one of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, spun-bonded polypropylene, flash-spun high-density polyethylene, polyethylene coated polypropylene, microporous polypropylene, vinyl, plastic and nylon.
 5. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the wearable underlying garment comprises an attachment means for attaching the at least one removable layer.
 6. The protective garment of claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one of a hook and loop fastener, hook and eye fasteners, snaps, buttons, zippers and adhesive.
 7. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein the at least one removable layer comprises at least one removable panel.
 8. The protective garment of claim 7, wherein the at least one removable panel comprises at least one of a front panel, a shoulder panel, a back panel, a collar panel, a lapel panel, and a sleeve panel.
 9. The protective garment of claim 7, where the at least one removable panel is attached using an attachment means comprising at least one of a mechanical means and an adhesive.
 10. The protective garment of claim 7, wherein the at least one removable panel is made of at least one of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, spun-bonded polypropylene, flash-spun high-density polyethylene, polyethylene coated polypropylene, microporous polypropylene, vinyl, plastic and nylon.
 11. The protective garment of claim 1, wherein wearable underlying garment is at least one of a coat, pants, chaps, coveralls, a lab coat, an apron and a surgical gown.
 12. A protective garment comprising: a wearable support frame; at least one removable layer attached to the frame; wherein the at least one removable layer is configured to be removed by a user without removing the wearable support frame.
 13. The protective garment of claim 12, wherein the wearable support frame comprises at least one of a shoulder portion, a collar, a lapel, and a front opening.
 14. The protective garment of claim 12, wherein the wearable support frame is constructed of at least one of a fabric, nylon and plastic.
 15. The protective garment of claim 12, wherein the at least one removable layer is made of at least one of cotton, cotton polyester blend, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, spun-bonded polypropylene, flash-spun high-density polyethylene, polyethylene coated polypropylene, microporous polypropylene, vinyl, plastic and nylon.
 16. The protective garment of claim 12, wherein the wearable support frame comprises an attachment means for attaching the at least one removable, wherein the attachment means comprises at least one of a hook and loop fastener, a hook and eye fastener, a snap, a button, a zipper and an adhesive.
 17. The protective garment of claim 12, wherein the at least one removable layer comprises at least one removable panel.
 18. The protective garment of claim 17, wherein the at least one removable panel includes at least one of a front panel, a back panel, a shoulder panel, a collar panel, a lapel panel and a sleeve panel.
 19. The protective garment of claim 17, where the at least one removable panel is attached using an attachment means comprising at least one of a mechanical means and an adhesive.
 20. A method of changing a soiled or contaminated surface of a garment, the method comprising: obtaining a protective garment comprising an underlying garment and at least one removable layer, and; removing the topmost removable layer and exposing the underlying removable layer or the underlying garment. 